The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1887-06-17

ltb III the least Wntn say luat
here were 250 Of the saurins splash
ng about us when we landed. In-
Iced, the two of us we're using our
firearms to keep 'em off while the
natives pulled tor the shore.
We had two double barrelled shot
guns, but not over IL dozen charges
OF ammunition, and we used halt OF
those before the boat landed. The
island was bit of spongy land not
over fifty feet across, with three or
tour small trees growing in the cen
ter. | had never seen the natives
so badly ratified. The mOmeut the
boat touched the ground they
Sprang ashore and ran to the center
oil the island, and, in their haste to
abandon the craft, two of the oars
were allowed to 90 overheard and
float away. 1t seemed for moment
as ii the reptiles meant to crawl
right over us, but the flash of the
guns aud the death of three or four
OF them produced something of
scare, and after bit they drew
away from the boat. | stood upon
a thwart and looked around in the |
twilight, aud it seemed to me that
the water all around the little ISL
and was alive with our enemies.
They swan here and there, they
turned and twisted and laShed the
water, and the Odor from their
Jodies and tue mud soon became
: almost uubearable.
1t was plain enough that we could
mol stop long on that bit OF land,
aud we called to the natives to re
turn to the boat aud be off. The
rOOr wretcheS had no courage lett,
aud they began to cry and whlmper
like children. We threatened to
turn our guns OIL them il they dld
not obey orders, aud they came
running to the boat. The oars
which had gone overheard had
floated away and could not be re
covered, aud when they discovered
This the most intelligent OF lbem
said:
TYOu do not understand these
reptiles. They are so fierce aud
hungry, and are so bold by night
that they will even climb into the
boat. Any one eau upset us by ii
blow of his tail"
"What would you advise 7" l ask
ed.
"That all go ashore and to the
other end of the island. We VIII
attract tue crOc0dileS to that locall'
tx, aud then return here in all haste
and row away"
The plan was the only one whicu
promised relief. and Ia two minutes
after it was proposed we went hur
rving 10 the lower eud of the island
The saurianS pursued us in b0tt
channels, thrasbing the water III
terrible way, and we bad scarcely
stODped when tnll score OF thtI
attempted to land, and would haN'
dOne so had we not driven then
back by The fire of our guns. Ih'
, tour natives removed their hats au'
shirts. rolled them lut0 four respec
tive bundles, aud at signal theS
were tossed far ont into the lagoon
There was a terrific rush OF tue rep
tiles, aud at the same moment "
: skurripd for the boat aud pushed
of. We had nicely Onlwitted III
. enemy, aud as we started away III
q two OarSInrn pulled Il StOnt stroke
: We were 800 feet from the lSlan'
= and almost ln he river, when ther
was a sudden shock which threw u
~ all duwu, aud two of the native
I went overheard. We had struck
I suay aud stove our boat, aud III
. water rushed Ia 50 fast that su
a swAmprd inside OF twO minutes
The four natives set up dlsms
: wall. aud started off in a body |
swim to the island. ii al they swaI
n quietly they Uni bit have reached u
n bnt the poor fellows were halt crai
ed with fe r, aud they splashed I'll
II water about aud kept up sort
# wailing, aud the alligators were
: once put Op the scent.
=. "Great Cod but we are TO
Is eateu alive y gasped my companion
n as the boat settled down with us.
"a aDou't forow,Nl warned, as
AZ prepared to strike Out after the -
~ lives. elf We have any show vt a.
q. it is drifting out into the river VII
le the boat
"a The eunwaies Ot the boat we
~ awasb. and we we're both ~ Il
n. water cliuging to the craft; ne
n. one side and on the other. The
AZ was y sluAgish current there, D
,e we had not drifled thirty feet iro
I'M the snag when we heard the shrle
- and screams Of the natives as 1
ie REPTILES rushed upon them. The
in was a terrible fight over he viciin
il and the waves kicked up helped
IN drive Us irOm he locality, aud We
10 probably the means OF saving g
d, lives. .
70 After the first iew wOris neith
"a Of % spoke. ANY attempt TO chs
ies and encourage would have 9e
n mockers. The moment We We
n. sighted BY saurian our ii'"e .
al cone. As we driited aiong Q
III. Dassed ne by not more than 7
ne feet az he made for ths island =